rodrigo family reunion

 

 earlier this month, my parents and a few of my mom's cousins hosted the rodrigo family reunion.  they put so much thought and effort into every detail...it was truly remarkable.

 

 

we started the day by learning more about our great-grandparents and their trek to america from holland.

 

finn was able to meet more cousins!

my favorite part was watching a video of my great-grandmother taken just three months before she died.  it moved me in ways i didn't expect.  and as i listened to her familiar voice tell her life story, i soon found myself wiping tears with my dress.  she talked about saying goodbye to her father and sisters when she moved to america- and how it meant goodbye forever.  she talked about the boat ride with five children, including a one year old.  she talked about losing her husband.  she talked about losing her daughters.  she talked about what travesty frozen foods are.  and how much she loved each of her children. 

 

it felt like she knew this was her last message.  and it was hard to watch the emotion on her children's faces as they watched this video.

 

it shook me.  i will never forget it.  a true, family treasure.

there were games and wine.  and incredible food.

my grandma and three of her siblings.  this picture makes me kind of sad.  there once was thirteen.

my mom and some of her cousins. 

 

and a really bad group picture, but at least we have one.  i wish we would have thought to take this as the sun went down!

and my favorite picture of the night.  we ended with a bonfire that included singing and the telling of old family secrets.  it felt magical to be sitting there under the stars...